Fort Sumter National Monument

For Sumter National Monument preserves one of a series of coastal fortifications built by the United States after the War of 1812. The fort was begun in 1829 and named for South Carolina Revolutionary War patriot Thomas Sumter. The base foundation of rock and granite material supported a massive five-sided, three story fort of 2.4 acres. Fort Sumter was the site of the opening battle of the Civil War on April 12, 1861. Confederate forces assailed the fort, with limited return fire from Sumter, for 34 hours. There is more to the park than just military history; For Sumter served as a lighthouse station as well. Since 1948 Fort Sumter has been recognized as a National Monument and administered and interpreted by the National Park Service for the numerous tourists who visit it every year.